411 Music Fact Or Fiction: Week 19

Posted by Mitch Michaels on 07.19.2007

Music Fact or Fiction returns with Ian Wright and Dan Marsicano as they talk the Mercury Prize, 50 Cent’s new album, a second Paris Hilton record and TONIC!

Welcome all! We're back from a three week hiatus with the anticipated nineteenth edition of the 411 Music Zone's Fact Or Fiction. Each week, two writers will be given statements regarding hot, up-to-the-minute music news and make a case as to whether that statement is fact or complete and utter bullshit (ie, fiction). And, just for the fuck of it, I'll be here to tally up how many times the writers agree. Got it?

It's an all-out war this week, as album reviewer and concertgoer Dan "The Man" Marsicon takes on indie douchebag and dancer about architecture, Ian "Always" Wright.

Here we go…

1. Despite delays and low charting singles, the new 50 Cent album will still be a big seller.

Dan Marsicano: FACT. Curtis will sell well for two reasons. Number one is the album will sell on 50 Cent's name alone. People still know who 50 Cent is and, even after a few years away from music making movies, 50 Cent is still popular enough to chart. The second reason is that there is really not a major release by any other artist on September 11th. The only record 50 Cent may have to contend with on the charts is Kayne West's Graduation, but it comes out three weeks earlier. I see Curtis at least breaking the top five on the Billboard charts.

Ian Wright: FACT. Never underestimate the spending power of suburban white teenagers seeking to piss off their parents by buying into gangster culture. Fiddy can't come up with a decent rhyme for shit, but so long as the beats are good he'll do fine.

Score: In one (for 1) year mang, a nigga's so paid/I have a straight bitch in the telly goin' both ways (Ah!)

2. Phil Spector murdered Lana Clarkson.

Dan Marsicano: FICTION. This is a tough question to answer. With the trial ongoing, it is still uncertain if he actually committed any wrongdoing. However, in my opinion, he did not do it. At first, I thought he did, until I heard about the DNA expert's finds that the fingerprints on the gun were only Clarkson's and that her DNA was the only DNA on her fingertips, which means that she did not struggle with Spector. This doesn't automatically mean that he didn't do it, but the evidence is looking better and better for Spector. For now, I will be in the fiction category, but that could change depending on how the trial progresses.

Ian Wright: FICTION. I dunno, I've not followed the trial as I pretty much don't care. Phil Spector today is hardly relevant to me as he's not produced anything decent since he and the Ramones got together. But he's entitled to be presumed innocent until proved otherwise so no, he didn't do it.

Score: Do you remember Hullabaloo/Upbeat, Shinding and Ed Sullivan too (for 2)?

3. The recent decision in Capitol Records vs. Debbie & Amanda Foster, where Capitol lost and was forced to pay court costs for the Fosters, is the beginning of the end for RIAA filesharing lawsuits.

Dan Marsicano: FACT. God, I hope this is a definite fact. I am absolutely sick of the RIAA throwing their weight around, thinking that they are the protectors of the music industry (Ed. Note: Um, they kinda are.). No matter what the RIAA does, there will still be illegal filesharing for years to come. There is no way for the RIAA to catch every single person and, as the court case shows, Capitol Records could not even provide exact details behind the copyright infringement. The music industry needs to know that, as long as album prices are high and music quality is low, filesharing will be a huge factor.

Ian Wright: FACT. If the RIAA are starting to lose these things then it makes it completely uneconomical to pursue individual filesharers. The sums won't add up, the money they recover if they win can't possibly make up the court costs they'll have to pay if they lose.

Score: Seeders: 14, Leeches: 3 (for 3)

INXS says SWITCH!

4. The Arctic Monkeys will become the first ever two-time winners of the Mercury Music Prize.

Ian Wright: FICTION. Notwithstanding the fact that album #2 is an inferior follow up to their completely average debut, the Mercury panelists seem to like alternating winners between mainstream and (relatively) unknown acts. For that reason and from reading around a few blogs, I'd be advising people to pile their money on to Bat For Lashes to walk away with the prize.

Dan Marsicano: FICTION. I really have no opinion on this, considering that I don't know anything about any of the artists being nominated for the award, with the exception of Amy Winehouse. However, since no artist has ever won the prize twice, I'll say that the Arctic Monkeys won't win. (Ed. Note: Way to do research, Dan!)

Score: Brian/Top marks for (for 4) not trying/So kind of you to bless us with your effortlessness

5. Emerson Hart will have just as good of a career solo as he did singing for Tonic.

Ian Wright: FACT. If by just as good a career you mean I will have no idea who this person is and what his music sounds like. (Ed. Note: Way to do research, Ian!)

Dan Marsicano: FICTION. I also have no idea who the hell Emerson Hart is and what his music sounded like. I just felt like not agreeing with Ian for the hell of it. (Ed. Note: Mother FUCK, neither of you guys have heard of fucking TONIC? Did you two just start listening to music last year?)

Score: We can stand on reason/We can fight about all the things/This isn't for (for 5) forever/This is more than a wedding ring

6. The news that Paris Hilton is working on a second album is the worst music news of the summer.

Ian Wright: FICTION. I couldn't care in the slightest. Some talentless skinny blonde is putting out a record, how is it different from being one of the Pussycat Dolls that doesn't sing on the albums?

Dan Marsicano: FICTION. We all know that the worst music news of the summer is the Spice Girls getting back together. Compared to that, Paris Hilton releasing an album is no big deal to me.

Final Score: No one knows fucking Tonic. I'm speechless. 5 (for 6)

A tight score this week. You know, I usually talk about things I liked and didn't like from the contenders' comments here, but TONIC! Come on! "If You Could Only See"? "You
Wanted More"? Mitch Michaels wins, because he actually has the Lemon Parade album.

Thanks to Dan, Ian and YOU, John Q. SeriouslyWhoIsTonic for dropping by this week. Be on the lookout for more Music Fact Or Fiction!